What does spender mean?
A spender is a person who uses or spends money. The word can be neutral when it merely identifies someone who buys goods, pays for services, or makes purchases, as in “the average spender.” More often, however, it suggests that the person's spending is generous, impulsive, or excessive. The expression “big spender,” for example, can be approving when it describes someone willing to make substantial purchases, but disparaging when it implies financial extravagance. “Spender” is also sometimes used more broadly to describe someone who consumes substantial quantities of a product. Although closely related in meaning to “spendthrift,” it is less accusatory and does not necessarily imply that the person is irresponsible with money. The term is common in both British and American English.
nounA person who spends money, especially freely or more than is necessary.
- A person who spends money, especially freely, extravagantly, or wastefully.
"The sale appealed to impulsive spenders looking for a bargain."
"Regular travel made him a considerable spender on hotels and restaurants."
"The report identified impulsive spenders as the group most likely to abandon their carts."
The regular plural is “spenders.”
"Retailers are targeting holiday spenders with early discounts."
Calling someone a spender is often less about how much they spend than about whether you think they are being careful.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does spender come from?
Spender derives from the verb spend, which comes from Old English spendan, meaning to expend or consume. The Old English verb was influenced by Old French depenser and ultimately by Latin expendere, a compound of ex- and pendere, meaning “to weigh out” or “to pay out.” Related forms include expend, expense, and expenditure, all of which reflect the same historical development of spending or paying out resources.
How spender is actually used
The term is neutral when it simply identifies a person who purchases or uses something, but it commonly carries a mildly negative implication of spending too much or spending carelessly.
Easily confused with spender
A spender is anyone who spends money, often with the implication of doing so freely or excessively, whereas a spendthrift is more specifically someone who squanders money wastefully.